Variety's review of Melania: a "Cheeseball Infomercial of Staggering Inertia"

"There's no drama to it. It should have been called 'Day of the Living Tradwife.'" That's Variety's Owen Gleiberman reviewing Melania, Brett Ratner's documentary about the First Lady, which cost $40 million to make (plus $35 million on marketing) and is projected to gross around $1 million in its first week.

The film follows Melania Trump over the 20 days leading up to the 2025 inauguration. What does she do? She tweaks the design of her outfits. She chooses the color of invitation envelopes (a lovely shade of scarlet). She offers tips about plates, flowers, and glassware. "All of this plays out," Gleiberman writes, "as if she's planning her wedding."

Ratner, canceled over accusations of sexual abuse, was "in no position to do anything but what he was told (that is, to be directed)." The result is "so orchestrated and airbrushed and stage-managed that it barely rises to the level of a shameless infomercial." Melania narrates in voice-over: "This is my last flight as a private citizen, before stepping back into my public life" and "The people I like have to share my vee-sion."

Previously:
• Melania documentary expected to bomb. Who cares?
• Melania Trump debuts a trailer that is very impressed with itself